Leitzell calls for opinion on Pace case and charter changes at Commission meeting

I reported last week that the Mayor was asking for discussion about the William Pace case against the Board of Elections and the City of Dayton in the State Supreme Court about his legal right to run as a write in: Leitzell calls for charter change discussion on petitions During today’s commission meeting he brings it up and asks the commission to weigh in publicly on what the direction should be.

Matt Joseph takes the weeny position that this has to be discussed in executive session because it’s a legal matter and the rest, follow suit. Except for Dean Lovelace who asks “is the system broken?” which is funny, because Lovelace was the leading advocate of electing commissioners by district after he had lost twice in general elections. Once he won in a special election to fill the seat that was vacated by Mark Henry, he forgot all about it.

This is not a case where there will be monetary damages against the city. This is one of procedural law, based on if the Charter or Ohio Revised Code takes precedence on the matter of write in candidates. The fact that they didn’t immediately go into executive session shows that the four Democratic commissioners have no interest in doing anything on this case.

As to the petition changes, they can’t take action either, other than to recommend it for consideration by a charter review committee. How hard is it to take a stand?

Apparently, Nan Whaley and Joey Williams need to go check with their benefactors to ask what position to take. When you spend a quarter of a million dollars of Other Peoples Money to get 5000 votes in a special election, you have to check with your bosses.

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